Handling is not only about ergonomics. Many sectors must work in explosive atmospheres. Chemical plants often handle products in hazardous areas. A key basis is ATEX product directive 2014/34/EU on how equipment must be designed for use in Ex zones.
The ezzFAST vacuum lifter from Best Handling Technology is used wherever speed matters. Goods are moved quickly, safely, and ergonomically. Applications include loading and unloading, transhipment, palletising, and picking. Besides typical packages such as sacks, cartons, and drums—up to six per minute—it also moves buckets, crates, sheets, panels, rolls, and coils.
In ATEX configuration our ezzFAST is well suited to hazardous areas. Ignition sources must be avoided. On ezzFAST, metal parts are stainless steel to avoid sparking. Plastics are conductive or designed to prevent static charging. The vacuum hose has a metal helix earthed at both ends, as does the supply hose. Conductive parts are bonded with earth cables. The electric vacuum pump is available in an Ex version or is placed outside the hazardous zone—but it still draws air from the zone and needs additional protection and monitoring. Best Handling Technology’s preferred approach is a pneumatic vacuum pump, which is not considered an ignition source. An ATEX inlet filter upstream of the pump filters air drawn from the environment before it enters the pump.
The ATEX ezzFAST runs on a metal crane (aluminium or stainless steel) with bronze crane wheels.
ezzFAST can handle sacks with a suction cup, for example. For difficult gripping, a pneumatic gripper designed for Ex zones is suitable—for example pulling elastic plastic bags from a carton octabin; the gripper grips under the bag closure and pulls the bag out.
The ezzFAST vacuum lifter in practice
In this example a pharmaceutical company receives raw materials in octabins and other containers. Weight varies between 30 and 80 kg. All have lids secured with tension locks.
Before an airlock, a conventional vacuum lifter loads them onto aluminium pallets on a conveyor. After cleaning, products enter a class ISO 8 cleanroom where containers must be distributed to use points.
The ezzFAST is the best fit because of the following properties.
Advantages of the ezzFAST vacuum lifter
The lifter introduces no particles: air is drawn from surfaces and exhausted outside. It adds no heat and does not disturb downward airflow. It is lubricant-free. Elastomers are FDA-approved. Metal parts are stainless with smooth surfaces so cleaning residues do not build up. Exhaust filter and vacuum pump sit outside the cleanroom for simple inspection and maintenance.
The ezzFAST in the Ex zone
When refilling raw materials, flammable vapours may be released, so the room is classified as zone 2.
The ezzFAST meets this requirement. The ezzFASTex design bonds all parts; connection hose material is antistatic; the filter outside the room is also antistatic, with the same atmosphere inside as in the zone 2 room. A pneumatic vacuum pump replaces the usual electric pump and is not treated as an ignition source. Elastomer seal dimensions comply with the directive.